Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there has been a recent review of direct provision as a model; his plan to review same in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51736/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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It is a common misconception the term ‘direct provision’ relates only to the Department of Justice & Equality and to the accommodation provided to protection applicants. In 1999/2000, the Government decided that protection applicants would be provided with State services, such as health and education, directly through the existing mainstream services. This also implied that the Government would not introduce separate, parallel State services specifically for protection applicants. In general, the guiding principle is that those in the protection process are provided with whichever services they are entitled to on the same basis as the indigenous population and through the same systems.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Programme for Partnership Government states that "Long durations in direct provision are acknowledged to have a negative impact on family life. We are therefore committed to reforming the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children."

The McMahon Report on Improvements to the Protection Process set out comprehensive recommendations, including in relation to direct provision. The third and final progress report showed that by June this year, 133 of its recommendations had been reported as fully implemented and a further 36 were in progress or partially implemented, representing 98% full or partial implementation. Details of the implementation can be found in this report on my Department's website, including in relation to a number of improvements in the application process and in accommodation centres. The Department is continuously implementing improvements in living conditions such as the introduction of independent living and these, along with improvements in the application process under the International Protection Act 2015, are making a real difference to the overall system of in Ireland.